The Alachua County Commission and the Gainesville City Commission are considering a countywide referendum to raise sales tax revenue for transportation projects. Road repair is an easy political win, but bus rapid transit...not so much.
Morgan Watkins shares news of a “push to get a transportation sales tax referendum on this fall's ballot” in Alachua County, Florida, which includes the city of Gainesville.
“[County Commissioners] were all in agreement that Alachua County government's share of the money will mostly be used to finance road repair projects, which will help reduce its $550 million backlog in such repairs,” writes Watkins.
However, “The possibility that the city of Gainesville will include a bus rapid transit system in its project list for the referendum proved divisive for the board.”
The County Commission’s hesitance results from a recent report that questioned a proposed BRT’s viability.
The City Commission also later delayed its decision on a proposed project list, according to a separate report from Christopher Curry.
FULL STORY: Bus rapid transit stalls county's move on tax referendum
Tampa Awarded Federal Transit Planning Grant
The city will use the money to open a new office aimed at guiding major transit projects in the region.
New Details for Portland's Transit Plan as Voters Head to the Polls
Voters in Portland-area voters will decide on a transportation funding measure for the "Get Moving 2020" plan, with details of four bus rapid transit project targeted for funding announced within weeks of the election.
How Much for Roads and Highways in a Proposed Portland-Area Transportation Funding Measure?
A regional transportation tax could be on the 2020 ballot in Portland and surrounding communities in Oregon. How much of that money created by the new tax, should it pass, will go to transit and how much will go to cars is an open question.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
